Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025) vs Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025) Manufactured in March, 2025, with display 11 with chipsetApple M3 (iPad), vs Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026), Manufactured in March, 2026with chipsetApple M4 (iPad). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
  • Lighter design: 460g vs 464g
  • Higher battery capacity: 8900mAh vs 7606mAh
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 6.0 vs 5.3

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB
- 8/512 GB
- 8/1024 GB
- 12/128 GB
- 12/256 GB
- 12/512 GB
- 12/1024 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025) and Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Performance
App & system performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD IPS LCD
Size 11 in 11 in
Resolution 1640x2360 pixels 1640x2360 pixels
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Pixel density 264 ppi 264 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No No
Max brightness 500 nits 500 nits
HDR support No No
Screen-to-body ratio 81.5 % 81.5 %
Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
n/a
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
514 nits
sRGB gamutn/a99.6 %
Response timen/a22 ms
Contrastn/a1140:1

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 247.6 mm (9.75 in) 247.6 mm (9.75 in)
Width 178.5 mm (7.03 in) 178.5 mm (7.03 in)
Thickness 6.1 mm (0.24 in) 6.1 mm (0.24 in)
Weight 460 g (16.23 oz) 464 g (16.37 oz)
Area 442 cm² (68.51 in²) 442 cm² (68.51 in²)
Water resistance No No
Back panel Metal Metal
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Gold
- Gray
- Blue
- Purple
- Gold
- Gray
- Blue
- Purple
Fingerprint sensor Yes In-Button Yes, In-Button
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
81.5 %
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
81.5 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025) and Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026) In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple M3 (iPad) Apple M4 (iPad)
Max Frequency 4050 MHz 4410 MHz
CPU Cores 8 (4 + 4) 10 (4 + 6)
Architecture 4/2.75 () 6/2.85 ()
Process TSMC TSMC
Transistor Size 3 nm 3 nm
Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Apple Neural Engine
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
3037
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
3717
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
11776
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
13294
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)30373717
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)1177613294
Geekbench Compute (GPU)46172n/a
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
2406667
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
3116013
CPU638921915032
GPU9956101135331
Memory371902349968
UX400234715682
NanoReview Score24066673116013
3DMark Wild Life

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 8 GB 12 GB
Memory Type LPDDR5 LPDDR5
Memory Frequency 6400 MHz n/a
Channels 4 4
Storage
Storage Capacity128 GB128 GB
Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS iPadOS 18.3 iPadOS 26.3 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 26.5)
OS Size n/a 38 GB

Battery

Volume 8900 mAh 7606 mAh
Max Charging Power 20 W 20 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 60 min)
Full Charge Time 2:16 h 2:16 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Zoom n/a Digital
Flash No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP Standard: 12 MP
Features Bokeh effect Bokeh effect
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Pixel size1.22 μm1.22 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationDigitalDigital

Front camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Matrix 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Aperture f/2.4 f/2.4
Sensor CMOS CMOS
Autofocus No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5.3 6.0
Bluetooth features LE LE
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 3.1 3.1
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
- Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort Yes Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- GPS
- GLONASS
NFC* No No
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM TypeeSIMeSIM
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
5G SupportYesYes

Sound

Speakers Stereo n/a
3.5 mm Jack No No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Apple iPad Air 11" (7th Gen, 2025)
n/a
Apple iPad Air 11" (8th Gen, 2026)
82 dB

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced March, 2025 yr March, 2026 yr
Release Date March, 2025 yr March, 2026 yr
Launch Price ($) 599 n/a
Sensors - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Fingerprint sensor
- Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Fingerprint sensor
Charger Included Yes 20 W Yes, 20 W
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

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